SBU to block websites endangering national security

(MENAFN - UkrinForm) The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) will soon start blocking websites suspected of undermining the country's national security before the presidential election.

The head of the SBU's department for counter-intelligence protection of the state's interests in the field of information security, Oleksandr Klymchuk, said this live on the Freedom of Speech program on Ukraine's ICTV channel.

The SBU will take such measures in response to information and cyber attacks, first of all, those coming from Russia.

"The information available to the Security Service shows that Russian intelligence services will put the main emphasis on hybrid aggression - cyberattacks, attacks on cyber space and critical infrastructure facilities, as well as the second vector - information influence, fake news and attacks on the information space," Klymchuk said.

According to him, the SBU has information that Russian special services are preparing powerful cyber attacks in the run-up to and during the presidential election in Ukraine.

"They may target not only the electronic systems of the Central Election Commission. They may also attack any facilities of critical infrastructure such as transport, communications, finance and energy," Klymchuk said.

He also noted that about 2,000 fake accounts had been blocked in the past year alone and about 200 Internet websites promoting Russian ideology had been submitted for sanctions.